The Saudi Royal Court announced today that Badr bin Abdulaziz Al Saud died today, April 1, at the age of 81. A statement issued by the court states funeral prayers for the late Prince will be performed after Asr prayer tomorrow, April 2, at the Imam Turkey bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.
Prince Badr was born in 1932 to King Abdulaziz (the first Monarch of Saudi Arabia) and his 12th wife, Haya bint Sa’ad al- Sudairi (a member of the powerful Sudairi family). Prince Badr had well over fifty half-siblings and three full brothers, Princes Abdul Majeed and Abdul Ilah.
Badr bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
In his youth Prince Badr, together with his brothers Prince Talal and Prince Fawwaz, participated in the Free Princes Movement. The movement lasted from 1962 to 1964 and was aimed at political reforms and adoption of a constitution. Because of his participation in the movement, Badr had to live in exile for a while, mostly in Egypt and Syria. Badr’s brother King Faisal (King from 1964 until his assassination in 1975) later pardoned the Princes.
After the rehabilitation, Prince Badr was appointed deputy commander of Saudi Arabian National Guard in 1967 – a position he held until just a couple of years ago. He finally asked to be relieved from the post because of health issues at the end of 2010.
Coat of Arms of the House of Saud
Prince Badr generally kept a very low profile and never participated in the power struggles within the family. Nevertheless, his opinion appears to have been greatly valued by his brothers and he served as an advisor to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
The late Prince is believed to have had only one wife, Princess Hessa bint Abdullah al-Sudairi – the daughter of Badr’s maternal uncle. They have seven children together, three sons and four daughters. Their first-born son is Prince Fahd, the Governor of Al Jauf province. Fahd is married to his cousin, Princess Sarah bint Abdullah – daughter of King Abdullah and Princess Hessa bint Trad Al Shaalan.
Condolences to the Saudi Royal Family.
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